MERS virus warning at US airports
Following the second confirmed US case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), federal health agencies have issued warnings at 22 airports.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says travellers do not need to change travel plans but should take special precautions to prevent contracting or spreading the disease.
These include washing hands frequently with soap and water, avoid touching the face or close contact with other sick people.
The advisory has been issued for travel to the Mid-East region including Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the UAE and Yemen.
The CDC asks all airline crew to report any passengers with MERS-like symptoms which may include fever, coughing, and apparent breathing difficulties.
The second MERS case, a resident of Saudi Arabia visiting Florida, is in isolation in an Orlando hospital
"The risk to the public remains very low," said Dr. Anne Schuchat of the CDC, however health officials are trying to contact all passengers the man may have come into contact with during his journey from the Gulf.
Yesterday, two Orlando hospital staff who fell ill after treating the patient have tested negative for the disease.
The World Health Organisation said its concern over MERS had heightened in recent weeks but the disease has not yet posed a worldwide health emergency.
There have been over 500 cases of MERS so far over the last two years with almost a quarter proving fatal.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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